William Johnston

William R. “Dick” Johnston, 81, of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, passed away on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 in Davenport after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 10, 2017 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the services on Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to Genesis Hospice or to Eureka Christian Health Outreach (ECHO) of Eureka Springs.

Dick was born July 22, 1936 in Yakima, Washington, the son of Aaron Garvey & Bertha (Person) Johnston.    He served in the United States Navy and was a graduate of the University of Idaho, where he had been a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Dick was united in marriage to Carolyn J. Bigler on October 3, 1959 in Post Falls, Idaho.

Dick managed Sears Department Stores for 34 years, in Montana, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.  He enjoyed lake living in Eureka Springs, his summer home in the Black Hills and the outdoors.

After his retirement, he and Carolyn volunteered with ECHO and local food banks.  They had also sold and bought antiques for a number of years.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Carolyn; his daughters, Treva (Reggie) Beckius of Grosse Pointe, Michigan and Vonda Johnston of Davenport; his sons, Brian (Kelly) Johnston of Pewaukee, Wisconsin and Steve Johnston of Idaho; his grandchildren, John (Saralyn) Beckius, Aaron Beckius, Sam Beckius, Will Johnston, Kadina Johnston, Dakota Johnston, Noah Johnston, Abagail Johnston and Aubry Johnston; his sisters, Arline (Ralph) Donat of Post Falls and Sonja Miller of Post Falls; his brother, Aaron (Betty) Johnston of Lincoln, Maine; his brother-in-law, Bob (Carrol) Bigler of Kalispell, Montana; and several nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother-in-law, Leonard Miller.